LONDON’S TRAFFIC

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20058, 15 March 1935, Page 6

LONDON’S TRAFFIC

A SERIOUS PROBLEM That London’s traffic problem is increased by the attitude of pedestrians is the opinion of Mr N. A. Foden, who returned to Wellington recently after spending six months in England. In comparison with Wellington, he said, if such a comparison were proper, London’s traffic problem was much more acute, largely because the pedestrians seemed disinclined to conform to what New Zealanders would regard as fundamental requirements. It was quite usual to see pedestrians dash across the street without giving any attention to the vehicular traffic on the roadway. Motor drivers in London seemed to be rather lax in some respects, more particularly in cutting corners and cutting into the line of traffic, but they were all so skilful that few collisions occurred. The bus drivers in particular were the admiration of all visitors; their skill in guiding their enormous vehicles through the narrow and congested streets was nothing short of marvellous. The Minister of Transport was making every endeavour to solve the traffic problem, and had engaged an expert to make a special study of the streets.. This expert would consult with Sir Edwin Lutynes, a leading architect, regarding future planning, and they would report to the Minister and his departmental officers later. They would endeavour to solve the problem during the next five years. “A problem it undoubtedly is,” Mr Foden said. “Long periods are taken to travel short distances by the overland routes. The electric trains and underground railways are certainly speedy, but there are many points in and around London not served by them, and travellers to those places may spend long periods going a few miles. As an instance, although it Is only about seven miles from Ilford to Fleet Street, the bus journey between thos two points occupies about an hour’s travelling time. If there is a fog, as happened on several occasions during my short stay in London, the time may be doubled. In a fog which visited London shortly after I arrived there it was necessary for the conductor of the bus I was on to light newspapers collected from the passengfiers after he had exhausted all of his flares. Even that did not enable the bus to reach its dstination. About half a mile from the terminus we were told that it was not worth while going on, as we could walk faster than the bus could safely travel.”